Buying a used car from a dealer vs private seller | Find me a Car

 
The biggest reason why you should buy from a dealership is because it’s regulated by law and any problems with the vehicle are handled by the dealership before you purchase.

 
However, private persons/dealers can easily sell you cars with significant problems. A lot of advertisements you see will say “as is” which translates to buyer beware. Therefore, you’ll have a very difficult time returning your vehicle if you feel you have been ripped off.

 
Therefore, it makes more sense to potentially pay slightly more at a dealership and guarantee that you are getting a fair deal than risk paying thousands of dollars for a vehicle with operating problems from a private dealer – with little to no recourse/